Ashford (Middlesex) Hockey Club

Goalscorers:
Jackie Parsons, Sharon McGlinley, Liv Young

Man of match:
Sophie Smart

In their opening league game for 2008, Ashford Ladies 1^st XI entertained Hampstead & Westminster 3^rd XI at Short Lane on Saturday.

Unfortunately, once again squad player and 1B standard umpire, TRACEY HOLLAND had to step down from playing to help officiate the game.

In addition, a late cry off from one Ashford player and injury to midfield regular STACEY KENWARD, reduced the squad to eleven players only.

However, a slightly new team format and system was tried by coach MANDY WAIN and it worked from the off, with everyone pulling together and playing some good team hockey.

The opposition also started well though and the game was very even for most of the first half.

In particular the Ashford back row of defenders SOPHIE SMART, EMMA HYNES and KIM FRY marked the Hendon forwards very closely, thus thwarting many of their attacks, whilst sweeper JACKIE PARSONS was enjoying her slightly more forward role and options.

The rest of the team were also performing well, with skipper LAURA SAMOUEL and midfielder PHIL WORSFIELD both having probably their best games of the season.

The positive attitude and approach by Ashford paid off shortly before half time, when a corner was injected from the left to the right hand side of the goal circle and switched back to striker JACKIE PARSONS.

JACKIE cleverly scooped the ball into the net and onto the backboard to secure a 1-0 lead for Ashford. The second half followed a similar pattern with both sides pressing for goals and Ashford playing some excellent team hockey to hang onto their slender lead. Almost midway through the half though, the Red & Blacks struck again from another short corner.

This time JACKIE PARSONS tried a straight strike from the push out which was initially saved by the Hendon keeper, but the ever alert Ashford striker SHARON McGLINCHEY followed up on the rebound to put the ball in the net and Ashford 2-0 up.

The Red & Blacks were now full of confidence and ten minutes later youngsters ANNA PROTHEROE and striker LIV YOUNG combined well, and LIV’s speculative shot from the edge of circle deceived the Hendon keeper and went into the net to take the score 3-0 to the home side.

The game was not over though and six minutes from the end the Red & Blacks goalkeeper SAM GRANT got injured, but she battled on and managed to keep the team’s first clean sheet of the season.

Thus it was a jubilant Ashford side who celebrated the final whistle and a well deserved 3-0 victory.

Next Saturday the 1^st XI Ladies have to travel to Hendon, who are only two places above them in the league and have only three points more, and on current form a win and further movement up the table is a realistic prospect.

Team:
S. Grant (GK), S. Smart, K. Fry, E. Hynes, P Worsfold, A. Protheroe, J. Parsons, S McGlinley, L. Samouel (Skipper), O. Young, J Basford